ISLAMABAD: In a bid to undermine the electoral mandate of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan’s army has launched a new round of action against the party of the jailed leader and its allies. The crackdown comes after Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its independent supporters emerged as the largest bloc in the general elections in Pakistan on February 8, defying the expectations of the military-backed parties.
According to party sources, police arrested several successful PTI-backed independent candidates and raided their properties across Punjab province, the most populous and politically influential region in the country. Arrest warrants have also been issued against candidates nominated by PTI for the post of chief minister in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the two provinces where the party claims to have a majority. In addition, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned Imran Khan’s sister Alima Khan on charges of inciting the public against the government and the army.
PTI’s prime ministerial candidate Omar Ayub, who is also Khan’s nephew, managed to get pre-arrest bail from a local court in an undisclosed case. There was speculation that he might be arrested in some fabricated case to prevent him from claiming the post of Prime Minister. Ayub has said that he will not bow down to any pressure and will form the government as per the people’s will.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s party on Friday claimed that at least 85 seats won by it in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, were snatched by rigging and manipulation. It said Pakistan’s election results would be remembered as the “biggest voter fraud” in the country’s history and demanded a recounting of votes in the disputed constituencies. It also accused the army and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of colluding with the rival parties to rig the polls.
Along with this, PTI has expressed concern about the health of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Beevi and claimed that her life is in “danger” and the “fascist regime” in Pakistan is refusing to treat her. Bushra Biwi, 49, is in jail after an accountability court sentenced the couple to 14 years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case last month. The case relates to the illegal sale of state gifts received by Khan when he was the prime minister. Khan has denied any wrongdoing and challenged his conviction in the Islamabad High Court in the Toshakhana case and another case involving the leak of confidential documents. He has also appealed for bail on medical grounds, citing his chronic back pain and spinal injury.
